Two of the six founding members of the two-year-old Harbor Stage Company in Wellfleet have left the organization, stating in letters to supporters that there has been discord in the group that forced them to leave.

Lewis D. Wheeler sent out an email Saturday, which he posted on Facebook, saying that it was “with great sadness” that he had made the “difficult but necessary decision” to not continue with Harbor Stage. He’s moving on, he said, “rather than fight against a rip current where my participation and input are no longer wanted.”

“Despite our creative successes and being welcomed with open arms by the Wellfleet community and enthusiastic audiences, it has become clear that there are fundamental rifts within the company about the present and future operations of the organization,” his letter said. “Sadly, these differences became personal and could not be bridged nor negotiated.”

Co-founder Amanda Collins, who is listed on Facebook as “in a relationship” with Wheeler, posted her own letter on the social media site on Sunday, saying she left the company in November.

“As the only member of the company who is a Cape native and a nearly lifelong member of the Cape theater community, I no longer felt that, within this group, I could put into practice the sense of community, passion for true collaboration, and downright fun that I was raised in,” she said, adding that she “could no longer attempt to reconcile the cognitive dissonance” with her “deep need for collaboration and being a member of an ensemble, in actual practice, not just in words or outward appearance.

“Sure, making art isn’t easy and is not always going to be fun, but I realized I was not always my best self and that never feels good.”

When contacted today about the letters, the other four founders of Harbor Stage — artistic director Robert Kropf, Stacy Fischer, Jonathan Fielding and Brenda Withers — released this statement: “One has two responses to this kind of thing, particularly when one’s integrity is called slightly into question: willingly participate in the public fray, staking our claim, defending our good intentions. Or quietly trust that the loyal people who support our work, those who have been involved in our plight and passionately continue to (be), those moved by our Spartan-like efforts, will look to their own judgment on where we stand, how we operate, and where our motivations lie. We choose the latter and will let the work speak for itself.”

Subscriptions for 2014 are being sold for three plays from June to September on the company’s website. Withers said in an email that the season is being planned.

When contacted for further comment, Collins said she did not want to comment beyond her Facebook note and Wheeler only wanted to add: “I’m incredibly proud of the work we created together, and that I wish we could have communicated and collaborated offstage as effectively as we had on stage.”

Both spent most of their letters thanking their supporters, the Wellfleet area community and the supporters of Harbor Stage and expressing regret about needing to leave. They also praised their years working in Wellfleet – including, in Wheeler’s letter, at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater before the departure there of artistic director Jeff Zinn.

The six co-founders met through working at the harborside theater, the original home of WHAT that became its second venue when the Julie Harris Stage on Route 6 opened. They worked together for a few years until Zinn, following differences with the WHAT board of directors, left in 2011. Concerned about the type of theater WHAT might produce in the future, the six got the lease for the harbor building and struck out on their own to pursue a dream for an actor-run company in 2012.

“The past two years (with Harbor Stage) have been an incredible journey of passion, commitment, hard work, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, creative joy, and common struggle – fostered by a wonderful sense of community and love built by all of you,” Wheeler said to supporters. Mentioning the tradition of theater at the harbor theater started by WHAT founders, Zinn, then director Brendan Hughes, he said “it was a solemn honor to be able to take up the reins as part of the ‘gang of six’ and carry the flag forward as the new Harbor Stage Company in 2012. It has been one of the most exciting and thrilling periods of my life. I am very proud of what we accomplished as a group, and the work that I have been able to contribute. It is extremely hard to leave.”

Wheeler also mentioned that he was “particularly saddened” about leaving summer theater in Wellfleet because of the involvement of his father — acclaimed Boston and Broadway theater director David Wheeler, who died in 2012 — there, too.

“I joined my dad in some way for each of these productions, so leaving the Harbor now means having to say yet another farewell to him,” Wheeler said in the letter. “It is for me a sacred space, and always will be.

“I will miss the plays and post-show discussions in the lobby, rehearsals and openings, working with talented actors and brilliant designers, but mostly I will miss the wonderful, unique, supportive community that has welcomed and nurtured us over the past two years and given me great joy and a feeling of home during a very difficult period of my life,” Wheeler said. “Thank you for giving me that gift and not letting me feel alone.”

Collins also evoked Wheeler’s father in her expression of “love and gratitude” to the community.

“I am extremely grateful for the support of friends and family in this amazing community and hope I can serve you all, and myself, better as an artist and human being, outside the company,” she said. “Through it all, I always remembered Lewis’ father’s quote about theater, ‘We’re not making enough money not to have fun.’ I look forward to having fun, and not making enough money, in new and exciting ways going forward.”

We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the Community Rules. We ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the Flag link next to the offending comment or fill out this form.